Peter Tatchell, human rights campaigner, visited Wolverhampton University’s Arena Theatre to discuss The Unfinished Battle for LGBT Equality with staff and students along with local LGBT network groups.

Peter, who is also Director of the Peter Tatchell Foundation was keen to meet some of the staff and students that have previously worked on equal marriage campaigns, to discuss the developments of Equality legislation over the past decade and to identify what also remains to be done. The Vice chancellor of the University, Prof. Geoff Layer presented Peter with a medal on behalf of the University for his lifelong commitment and engagement on LGBT issues and Human rights. Adam Khan, the vice chair of the student LGBT + society also presented Peter with the highest student-based award, the UWSU LGBT+ society Certificate of Excellence.

Adam Khan, Vice Chair of the Student LGBT+ Society, University of Wolverhampton said “I found the talks very inspirational and informative, they gave everyone something to reflect on about the issues facing LGBT+ people. At the end of the day I felt even more motivated to be engaged with the community”.

Discussions started with the challenges faced by the University of Wolverhampton, home to 27,000 people, striving to be deeply rooted with communities. The event continued with talks from the Chair of the Wolverhampton LGBT Network and members of the LGBT+ Society on Wolverhampton Pride and Student involvement. A moving film screening of East Bloc Love also took place by Shropshire Rainbow Film Festival, where an openly gay activist in Belarus begins a fight for equality in one of the last dictatorship in Europe.

Staff and students at the University felt it was important that such events take place not only to act as a forum for discussion, but to ensure that visibility of LGBT people is acknowledged and thereby sending a strong message of University being an inclusive institution.

Pliny Soocoormanee, Campaigner, University of Wolverhampton said “It was a fantastic event that we held at the Arena theatre and having Peter Tatchell with us was a real plus. He outlined the stunning progress that has been achieved since the early days of the Gay Liberation Front and of Section 28 but stressed a number of issues such as bullying at schools and ban on blood donations that need to be tackled. The event was a show case of a successful partnership between students from the LGBT+ society and staff from the LGBT Staff network”.